Discover How Factoring Can Boost Your Business And Increase Your Cash Flow-Almost Overnight!!

Here's How To Select The Best One For Your Business.

Whether you need to fund your startup or need some extra operating cash for your current business, Factoring can give a huge boost to your business. And even though there are hundreds of factoring companies out there, not all of them are a good fit for your type of business.

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New to Factoring?

For those who aren't familiar with factoring, it is basically a fast way to get cash to run your business.

Factoring is Not a Loan

When you send your customers an invoice, they usually have 30 days to pay you back. Factoring companies will give you the bulk of the cash up front, sometimes within 24 hours, and collect the payments from your customers themselves. Once the invoices are paid in full, you’ll get the balance left over, minus a small fee.

Factoring Doesn't Require Debt

So how do you go about choosing the best factoring company?

Not all of them are created equal. Not all of them will give you the same level of service you need to help grow your business.

Everyone claims they have the simplest rate structure in the industry, no long-term contracts, same day funding, no up-front fees, no monthly minimums or maximums, etc., etc., etc.

We also offer these same benefits, but we GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOU that other factoring companies don’t.

Here’s Why We Are The Factoring Company You Need For Your Business

No other factoring company matches our level of superior service and offerings.

Financially Strong

We have been in business since 1979, are privately held, and have a proven track record of being financially strong. We have survived many economic downturns and in doing so, can help you through any difficult times you might encounter. We won’t go out of business when the times get tough, like some other factoring companies regretfully have in the past.

Part of a Vast Network

Every factoring company has a preference for size, industry, and risk. It’s impossible for you to know which company is the best fit for you. By contacting us, we can save you a tremendous amount of time by helping you find the best match for your business - whether it’s with us or another company.

We have a vast network of industry colleagues that we’ve built over 20+ years in the business. So, when you take the time to explain your needs to us, we can be the “one stop shop” to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

No Minimum

Most factoring companies will allow you to pick & choose customers to factor, however they usually have a minimum amount before they’ll work with you. With us, you can pick & choose what to factor on an invoice by invoice basis with no minimum.

Our factoring agreement is like carrying a credit card in your pocket. You carry it to use when you need it but don’t sign an agreement which will force you into factoring when you don’t need it.

Transparent Fees

Most factoring companies are not upfront about their fees. We are different. We are totally transparent about our fees. When you apply, you are provided a transparent, no obligation rate proposal with the fee for your company.

Our typical contract term is 90 days and we offer price breaks for extended term contracts as well as volume discounts. Optional services include $7/ACH for next-day funds sent electronically to your bank account or $12/wire for same-day funds. Invoices can be scanned and electronically uploaded directly to our secure server for $9/batch. In instances when original invoices are required, we offer discounted rates with Federal Express to submit your invoices.

That’s it! See which other factoring company, if any, will be totally up front with their fees before they try and get your business.

Higher Advance Rates

An “advance” rate is the percent of the invoice face value that you’ll receive upfront. Industry average advance rates are 70-90% of the face value of the invoice. So, for example, if your customer owes you $1,000, you should expect to receive an advance payment of $700 to $900 to your account. Our typical advance rates are higher than average - at 85-97% depending on industry and payment track record.

Personalized Solutions

We are not beholden to Wall Street investor money. We are a privately held company and don’t answer to investors or boards. We are like-minded entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to run a business. We take the time to hear your story, learn your struggles, and put together a solution for you rather than relying on an algorithm to determine your company’s value. Who do you want to rely on as a cash flow partner to fund your business?

Dedicated Account Administrators

Many factoring companies have either a lot of employee turnover, a complex voice mail system that you get lost in or operate call centers where you talk with a new representative every time you call in. We offer dedicated account administrators to be your point of contact – who knows your business intimately, and can help you in ways others just can’t.

Industry Veterans

We have been in business since 1979 and have staff who are dedicated to working in this industry as a career. We are veterans in this industry and can provide additional business guidance and resources as needed.

Our Business is Your Business

We establish a mutual risk tolerance to avoid putting you in the position to ever have to buy back an invoice. We also keep track of each invoice and follow them like your own credit and collections department would. Once they hit the payment date we place friendly reminder calls and/or emails on your behalf and keep notes as to when it is scheduled to be paid, and send copies if needed until payment is received.

Payment Trend Alerts

You will have access to online aging reports and your dedicated account administrator is kept in the loop and given advance notice of any collection issues so there are no surprises.

Up-to-Date Customer Credit History

You get direct online access to your customer’s business credit reports, or you can call and speak with your account administrator – your choice. Stay ahead of negative payment trends. This is critical to running your business and filling your next order.

Leading Edge Technology

We make strides to incorporate the latest technology to expedite the funding process, such as electronic submission of invoices, online reports, online credit checking and other emerging methods to streamline the process and reduce overhead, which means lower rates for you. Most other companies don’t even come close.

Financially Strong

We have been in business since 1979, are privately held, and have a proven track record of being financially strong. We have survived many economic downturns and in doing so, can help you through any difficult times you might encounter. We won’t go out of business when the times get tough, like some other factoring companies regretfully have in the past.

Part of a Vast Network

Every factoring company has a preference for size, industry, and risk. It’s impossible for you to know which company is the best fit for you. By contacting us, we can save you a tremendous amount of time by helping you find the best match for your business - whether it’s with us or another company.

We have a vast network of industry colleagues that we’ve built over 20+ years in the business. So, when you take the time to explain your needs to us, we can be the “one stop shop” to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

No Minimum

Most factoring companies will allow you to pick & choose customers to factor, however they usually have a minimum amount before they’ll work with you. With us, you can pick & choose what to factor on an invoice by invoice basis with no minimum.

Our factoring agreement is like carrying a credit card in your pocket. You carry it to use when you need it but don’t sign an agreement which will force you into factoring when you don’t need it.

Transparent Fees

Most factoring companies are not upfront about their fees. We are different. We are totally transparent about our fees. When you apply, you are provided a transparent, no obligation rate proposal with the fee for your company.

Our typical contract term is 90 days and we offer price breaks for extended term contracts as well as volume discounts. Optional services include $7/ACH for next-day funds sent electronically to your bank account or $12/wire for same-day funds. Invoices can be scanned and electronically uploaded directly to our secure server for $9/batch. In instances when original invoices are required, we offer discounted rates with Federal Express to submit your invoices.

That’s it! See which other factoring company, if any, will be totally up front with their fees before they try and get your business.

Higher Advance Rates

An “advance” rate is the percent of the invoice face value that you’ll receive upfront. Industry average advance rates are 70-90% of the face value of the invoice. So, for example, if your customer owes you $1,000, you should expect to receive an advance payment of $700 to $900 to your account. Our typical advance rates are higher than average - at 85-97% depending on industry and payment track record.

Personalized Solutions

We are not beholden to Wall Street investor money. We are a privately held company and don’t answer to investors or boards. We are like-minded entrepreneurs who understand what it takes to run a business. We take the time to hear your story, learn your struggles, and put together a solution for you rather than relying on an algorithm to determine your company’s value. Who do you want to rely on as a cash flow partner to fund your business?

Dedicated Account Administrators

Many factoring companies have either a lot of employee turnover, a complex voice mail system that you get lost in or operate call centers where you talk with a new representative every time you call in. We offer dedicated account administrators to be your point of contact – who knows your business intimately, and can help you in ways others just can’t.

Industry Veterans

We have been in business since 1979 and have staff who are dedicated to working in this industry as a career. We are veterans in this industry and can provide additional business guidance and resources as needed.

Our Business is Your Business

We establish a mutual risk tolerance to avoid putting you in the position to ever have to buy back an invoice. We also keep track of each invoice and follow them like your own credit and collections department would. Once they hit the payment date we place friendly reminder calls and/or emails on your behalf and keep notes as to when it is scheduled to be paid, and send copies if needed until payment is received.

Payment Trend Alerts

You will have access to online aging reports and your dedicated account administrator is kept in the loop and given advance notice of any collection issues so there are no surprises.

Up-to-Date Customer Credit History

You get direct online access to your customer’s business credit reports, or you can call and speak with your account administrator – your choice. Stay ahead of negative payment trends. This is critical to running your business and filling your next order.

Leading Edge Technology

We make strides to incorporate the latest technology to expedite the funding process, such as electronic submission of invoices, online reports, online credit checking and other emerging methods to streamline the process and reduce overhead, which means lower rates for you. Most other companies don’t even come close.

As you can see, we simply have more to offer you.

Other factoring companies don’t even compare.

And Not All Factoring Companies Can Say This:

More than half of our new business comes through client referrals.

So, Can Your Company Use Factoring?

Of Course! Companies of all sizes, from small privately-owned companies to large multi-national corporations, use factoring as a way to increase their cash flow. Factoring spans all industries, including trucking, transportation, manufacturing and distribution, textiles, oil and gas, staffing agencies and more.

Companies use the cash generated from factoring to pay for inventory, buy new equipment, add employees, expand operations—basically any expenses related to their business. Factoring allows a company to make quicker decisions and expand at a faster pace.

Unlike a bank loan, factoring has…

No principle or interest to pay over time

No debt to repay

Unlimited funding potential – no caps

Fast funding – no waiting months like at a bank

Approval is based on the strength of your clients, not your credit

Startups are welcome in using funding services

Some of the benefits you receive with factoring are:

Stop worrying about cash flow issues and start spending more time on your business.

No need to make monthly payments to repay a loan.

Receive money in as soon as two to four days – or sooner.

Reduce business costs associated with the collection process.

Win the battle against slow-paying clients.

Get instant credit evaluations for new customers.

Have complete control over your cash flow by deciding which invoices to sell and when.

Enjoy bulk-purchasing discounts or early payment discounts by having extra cash.

Improve your credit rating by having cash on hand to pay bills on time.

You get complete and detailed reports about your accounts receivable portfolio.

Provides cash for your expansion.

Provides cash for your marketing.

Improves your overall financial statement.

Stop worrying about cash flow issues and start spending more time on your business.

No need to make monthly payments to repay a loan.

Receive money in as soon as two to four days – or sooner.

Reduce business costs associated with the collection process.

Win the battle against slow-paying clients.

Get instant credit evaluations for new customers.

Have complete control over your cash flow by deciding which invoices to sell and when.

Enjoy bulk-purchasing discounts or early payment discounts by having extra cash.

Improve your credit rating by having cash on hand to pay bills on time.

You get complete and detailed reports about your accounts receivable portfolio.

Provides cash for your expansion.

Provides cash for your marketing.

Improves your overall financial statement.

There you have it.

We are the best. Our factoring is the only company you need. We want to give you money TODAY! So just pick up the phone and give us a call... We're waiting... Call Us Now! We Will Fund You Fast!

Call us today and let us help you get the cash you need to operate your business effectively.

Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to Des Moines in 1857. It is named after the Des Moines River, which may have been adapted from the French Rivi�re des Moines, meaning River of the Monks. The city's population was 203,433 as of the 2010 census. The five county metropolitan area is ranked 88th in terms of population in the United States with 594,600 residents according to the 2014 estimate by the United States Census Bureau.Des Moines is a major center of the U.S. insurance industry and has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. In fact, Des Moines was credited as the number one spot for U.S. insurance companies in a Business Wire article and named the third largest insurance capital of the world.

The city is the headquarters for the have large operations in or near the metro area. In recent years have established data processing and logistical facilities in the Des Moines metro. magazine ranked Des Moines as the Best Place for Business in both 2010 and 2013. In 2014, NBC ranked Des Moines as the Wealthiest City in America according to its criteria.Des Moines is an important city in U.S. presidential politics because it is the capital of Iowa, which is home to the first caucuses of the presidential primary cycle. Hence, many presidential candidates set up campaign headquarters in Des Moines. A 2007 article in The New York Times stated if you have any desire to witness presidential candidates in the most close up and intimate of settings, there is arguably no better place to go than Des Moines.Many insurance companies are headquartered in Des Moines,. Des Moines has been referred to as the Hart of the West because of this.

The Principal is one of two Fortune 500 companies having headquarters in Iowa, ranking 273rd on the magazine's list in 2009.As a center of financial and insurance services, other major corporations headquartered outside of Iowa have established a presence in the Des Moines Metro area,. magazine ranked the Des Moines metropolitan area first on its list of Best Places For Business And Careers, based on factors such as the cost of doing business, cost of living, educational attainment, and crime rate

Information for the state of Iowa

While Iowa is often viewed as a farming state, in reality agriculture is a small portion of a diversified economy, with manufacturing, biotechnology, finance and insurance services, and government services contributing substantially to Iowa's economy. Manufacturing is the largest sector of Iowa's economy, with $20.8 billion (21%) of Iowa's 2003 gross state product. Major manufacturing sectors include food processing, heavy machinery, and agricultural chemicals. Sixteen percent of Iowa's workforce is dedicated to manufacturing. Food processing is the largest component of manufacturing.

Its industrial outputs include food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, publishing, and primary metals. Directly and indirectly, agriculture has always been a major component of Iowa's economy. However, the direct production and sale of raw agricultural products contributes only about 3.5% of Iowa's gross state product. The indirect role of agriculture in Iowa's economy can be measured in multiple ways, but its total impact, including agriculture-affiliated business, has been measured at 16.4% in terms of value added and 24.3% in terms of total output. Iowa also has a strong financial and insurance sector, with approximately 6,100 firms. Ethanol production consumes approximately one-third of Iowa's corn production, and renewable fuels account for 8% of the state's gross domestic product. A total of 39 ethanol plants produced 3.1 billion US gallons (12,000,000 m3) of fuel in 2009.

You are about to be relieved of the stress and time consuming process of collecting on your accounts receivable.

Each company has its own unique business needs, so some companies only factor invoices for customers that are slow in paying, whilst other companies factor all of their invoices. -Des Moines Factoring Companies

GREATEST FACTORING NEWS IN 151 YEARS

Des Moines Factoring Companies Articles

The Best Kept Secret in Financial Services: Freight Bill Factoring!

If you’re an existing owner of a trucking business, or perhaps you’re planning on starting a trucking business, then you may be interested in Freight Bill Factoring. Freight Bill Factoring helps trucking businesses, both large and small, achieve their overall business goals; but before making any final decision you must fully understand how Factoring works.

Freight Bill Factoring has become very popular with trucking businesses and is often referred to as the financial backbone of the trucking business. If you’re not familiar with Freight Bill Factoring, you may not know that factoring is a financing alternative for business owners: it gives them immediate access to additional financing capital they may otherwise not have access to. The process of Freight Bill Factoring is actually quite straightforward: it involves a factoring company purchasing bill of ladings at a discounted rate. This process is a win-win situation for both the trucking company who receives immediate funds and for the broker who pays for the invoices.

Freight Bill Factoring Is Not New!

Freight bill factoring is not a new idea; in fact, it has a long, rich tradition. Most civilizations that have engaged in commerce have also engaged in factoring in one form or another. For example, business relationships during the colonial period in North America were required to make cash payments in advance against Accounts Receivable in order for the business to continue with its commercial operations, prior to their users being paid for their goods. So, they were engaged in factoring!

Factoring Specialists Have Many Services to Offer

Of course, factoring has become a lot more sophisticated over the years, and today it’s focused on financial management, credit worthiness, and on collections. However, the basic concept of purchasing Accounts Receivable has stayed the same. In addition, the modern factoring company of today can do a lot more than just funding: a factoring specialist can assist clients by evaluating and setting credit limits, verifying customer’s credit worthiness, and professionally managing Accounts Receivable collections. Right across North America we see factoring companies existing in all forms and serving business sectors and industries of all types; and today, many large financial institutions even have their own factoring divisions. Generally, though, factoring companies are smaller, independently owned enterprises.

Banks Step Out as Factoring Steps In

Factoring has become very popular with trucking businesses because, as most business owners can verify, commercial lenders have become increasingly inflexible, with stricter regulations and ever-changing lending criteria. This inflexibility has forced both small and medium sized businesses to search for alternative financing sources, and this is where factoring has stepped in. Factoring is a simple, workable, solution-based process, providing an alternative for trucking businesses when traditional means of financing are not available. Factoring is proving to be a great financial remedy, particularly as banks and other lenders are becoming less friendly to small business owners.

Factoring Companies Operate Worldwide

The volume of factoring around the world has today exceeded the trillion-dollar mark! Factoring companies operate on every continent and, in the last four years, worldwide factoring transactions have increased by 60%. And that’s why we say that Freight Bill Factoring is the best kept secret in financial services!

Des Moines Factoring Companies Articles

Financing Temporary Staffing Agencies

In recent years temporary staffing agencies have become very profitable, because the current business environment prefers to outsource employees rather than hire them. This situation creates a very attractive and viable opportunity for temp staffing agencies. But, similar to other businesses, in order to operate a successful temp staffing agency, working capital is an absolute necessity. This requirement of working capital has become a problem for most agencies who often suffer from a cash flow crisis. Having adequate cash flow prevents the company from being run effectively, thus stopping the company from adding new clients. The result is that the business fails to grow. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem, and the solution is the right type of financing.

Payroll and Bills Must Be Paid on Time!

The most important and probably the biggest expense of any temp staffing agency is employee payroll. Obviously, employees expect to be paid regularly and on time, and if this is not the case, they'll quickly move on and find work elsewhere. In addition, the agency needs funds to pay for other employee-related expenses, such as employment taxes. When a business fails to comply with tax regulations the costs involved can be extensive and can the even put the business itself in jeopardy.

Business Growth Is Impossible without Funds

Generally, Government and commercial clients pay their invoices somewhere between 30 and 60 days, and it's this timeframe that creates problems for temp staffing agencies. When an agency takes on a new client, before they start getting paid, the agency must be able to pay the employee's salary for up to two months.

This means that the only way to grow a temp staffing agency is to have a cash reserve to pay for running expenses. If you don't have a reserve of funds, then you can't take on new contracts; and if you work with larger contracts you need a larger reserve. And this is where it becomes a vicious cycle, because if you can't take on new contracts then business growth is impossible.

Payroll Funding: Helping Your Business Grow

Fortunately, there is a solution available for temp staffing agencies to resolve this very common financial problem, and it's known as Payroll Funding, or Payroll Financing. Payroll Funding is a solution that's been designed to help staffing agencies access much-needed working capital.

Payroll financing is actually a type of Invoice Factoring, allowing you to finance your slow-paying receivables. This type of funding provides your temp staffing agency with immediate funds. Now there'll be no more waiting for your Government and commercial clients to pay in 60 days - the payroll funding company will pay you within a day or two! Now you'll have the working capital your agency so desperately needs to meet payroll and other expenses; and now you can move forward and grow your business without constantly worrying about slow paying clients!

How Does Factoring Work?

Factoring is a very straightforward process. Basically, invoices are financed in two separate payments, with the first payment covering approximately 90% of the gross invoice value, and the second payment, which is the remaining 10% less factoring fees, is remitted to you once your client has paid. The first payment is paid into the temp staffing agency's bank account very soon after the invoice has been submitted for financing. In the meantime, your clients are not required to pay any sooner - they simply pay on their regular schedule.

Payroll Funding Is Available to Small Agencies

One huge advantage of factoring is that it's available to small agencies (even start-ups!) that don't have many assets. Because it's the invoices which are the assets the factoring company is financing, it's the credit quality of your customers that the factoring company is most interested in. Factors can only finance invoices if your customer (the payer) has good commercial credit, and that's why factoring has become a very viable and attractive option for both small and growing agencies whose greatest asset is their good clients.

Growing Your Agency with Factoring

Let's take a closer look at how your temp staffing agency can use invoice factoring to grow your company. We'll assume for the purpose of this article that you have a new client who requires six full-time employees for a few months. This new client is a large corporation and has a good reputation. The problem with this corporation, however, is that they pay their invoices in 50 days, and there's no way you can afford to carry the cost of the contract.

What's the solution? The solution is actually quite simple: you invoice the client weekly and factor the invoice! This funding strategy allows you to service the contract by providing your agency with weekly funds to pay employees. Providing you have clients with good credit and your agency provides good services, receivables factoring can be used very effectively to grow your business.

When factoring is used properly, it can help grow your temp staffing agency well beyond its current financial capabilities.

Des Moines Factoring Companies Articles

Why Do Companies Choose Factoring?

We know that factoring is the ideal way for a business to access instant cash on their company’s receivables, but there are other important benefits as well. Factoring can be a very handy financial instrument for many businesses.

Listed below Are Six Key Benefits of Factoring

No. 1: Back Office Solutions

Anyone running a business knows just how time consuming and expensiveit can be collecting payments from customers. When you employ a factoring company they’ll take over that role for you using their own collection specialists: it’s their job to follow up with customers until such time as your account has been paid in full. In addition, some factoring companies use online accounts, which means that you’ll have the ability to track your customers’ payments in real time.

Handing this time consuming part of your business over to the factoring company frees up your time to do what you do best – running your business, looking for new business opportunities, and providing your customers with excellent customer service.

No. 2: Better Quality Customers

Some factoring companies have their own rating systems for companies involved in your industry, in addition to having access to credit data on companies that could well become your new customers, and days pay information. Others create their own rating systems for companies working in your industry, which allows you to make calculated, informed decisions about both existing and new customers.

No. 3: Instant Access to Cash

When a company provides goods or services on credit it usually has to wait somewhere between 30 and 90 days for customers to pay on their invoice, and this very often leads to cash flow problems for the business. And that’s the beauty of factoring! When you use a factoring company you’ll typically receive an advance on an invoice within 24 hours. This immediate injection of cash allows businesses to purchase additional equipment, employ new staff, and cover other business expenses.

No. 4: Growing Your Business

Because factoring provides instant access to cash, it offers you the flexibility to grow your business at a faster pace. In addition, factoring is very simple to set up. A factoring account can be created within a matter of days, whereas a traditional bank loan can take weeks. And, there’s no limit to the amount of funding a factoring company can provide, unlike bank loans. Of course, this is assuming the factoring company you choose to work with has a strong capital structure. Over a period of time, the volume of factoring can increase within months – from thousands to millions of dollars.

No. 5: Funding for Start Ups

Start Ups quite often require financing to get their business up and running; but because they have no cash flow statements or balance sheets, and no business history, they’re highly unlikely to qualify for cash flow or asset based lending.

Factoring is not concerned about these requirements because it’s main interest is in the credit history of your customers. Before a factoring company offers you financial assistance it will examine your customers’ credit scores, their payment patterns, and general financial health. Typically, the factoring company will not be interested in how long your company has been operating.

No. 6: Factoring Is Not a Debt

Factoring does not become a debt to your business because it’s not a loan. Your business receives financial support from the factoring company as and when you accumulate invoices, and the matter is settled once your customers have paid in full. It’s true that if you’re utilizing recourse factoring, you, as the factoring client, assume the risk if your customers default on payment; however, factoring companies usually allow businesses to work off that amount by retaining a portion of reserve payments or future cash payments.

Des Moines Factoring Companies Articles

Factoring Companies - Benefits

Factoring companies offer a wide variety of benefits to businesses. Factoring companies conduct financial business by allowing a business to sell its invoices to a factor (also known as a third party business or individual.) The price that the business charges is discounted in order to sell the invoices that are currently held, and make the cash that is immediately needed for any type of expenditures involving the business. A business that has immediate cash needs, but has no cash to pay for the expenditures that has occurred often ends up going under and eventually shutting down completely. This takes a lot of jobs away from people, and can leave you working for someone else, no longer running for your business. No one wants to take this large step down from the current place that they are in. A business owner has worked incredibly hard to get to where he or she currently is, and does not deserve to have their business become obsolete. This is where the factoring companies can be a huge help to businesses.

Invoice FactoringKeep in mind that factoring companies do not use the same process as invoice discounting. Instead, invoice factoring (also called the “Assignment of Accounts Receivable” by the FASB and GAAP) is the sale of invoices, instead of invoice discounting which involves collateral in order to ensure that the individual who took out the invoice discounting loan will pay it back. Factoring is not a loan; instead, factoring is the sale of invoices in order to get immediate cash. There is no loan in the process of factoring, and you will never have to pay the money back.

Since the invoices that are sold are also called receivables, the entire process of factoring is usually called the sale of receivables. Receivable factoring is much better than trying to take a loan out from the bank. Banks charge interest on any type of loan, and although there is usually collateral, it can put you in even more debt than you currently are. In addition, factoring companies are never going to give you a loan. When a factoring company funds your discounted receivable, he or she will choose to buy the receivable, giving you cash immediately. This cash can pull your entire business out of the hole that it is currently in. Instead of taking a loan out and getting yourself further into debt, factoring allows you to simply sell your own invoices and get back most of the money that you originally put into them. Although this may seem like a bad process since you are selling valuable invoices, it is important to do, as the invoices are completely useless if your entire business goes under. Instead of trying to take a loan out to keep all of your receivables (invoices) factoring companies benefit you directly by giving you the cash you need.

Benefits of Factoring Companies / Invoice Factoring / Receivable FactoringWhen you are in a bind and really need money in order to get through the next few months, it can be very troublesome. Although the first thought in most peoples’ minds would be to visit the nearest bank as soon as possible and take out some kind of loan, this is very dangerous. Although the loan may hold your business over for the next few months, it is simply delaying the same money crunch you already had. Unless your business is making an incredible amount of money, the bank loan that you took out has increased in the price that you must pay bank. Interest on a bank loan is how the banks make money and survive. Many loans have a very high interest rate, and if you are unable to pay the loan back in a short amount of time, you are going to be in more of a money crunch than you originally were in. In order to pay back the loan, you would have to make a large amount of money in a very short time, which is unlikely if you needed to take out the loan in the first place.

Rather than bothering with bank loans that will inevitably put you back in the money hole that you were in when you took it out, factoring companies are available to help you. A factoring company is a place where businesses can place their invoices for sale at a discounted price, which will allow them to receive immediate cash. As aforementioned, this money does not need to be paid back, as it is not a loan. Keep in mind, you are not selling your business. You are selling invoices in order to keep your business growing. You will be able to get more invoices in the future when your business is back up and running, but if you do not sell these invoices, you will never be back up and running.

When you are in a money crunch, don’t put yourself back in the money hole that you are in by taking out a bank loan. Utilize factoring companies in order to get immediate cash that will help you get back up and running without putting a loan on your business.

Des Moines Factoring Companies Articles

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Why Trucking Companies Use Factoring Companies.

As the owner of your own business, you may be more than aware already of the difficulty in making sure that cash flow issues do not become a problem down the line. After all, the worst thing that can possibly happen for your business is to find yourself embroiled in a long and difficult situation that leaves you forever trying to find the cash you need on an ongoing basis.

For any business in this situation, the problem can come for waiting for work to clear up and actually be paid into your account. Invoices, checks, and the like can take some time to actually to be processed which can leave you with short-term cash flow issues. Thankfully, there are options out there for businesses to look into – and one of these is factoring companies.

Factoring companies will, in exchange for your invoices, provide you with the cash today so that you don’t need to worry about the waiting period that could make paying the bills and getting materials more difficult. With this type of setup, invoice factoring can become incredibly useful for many businesses who need to get out of a cash trap which they have found themselves in.

Because, depending on the size of the job, it can take up to 60 days for some businesses to get paid then it’s important to cover your own back and not leave yourself cash short to pay the bills. After all, how many businesses have two months revenue just lying there to cover all their expenses until they get paid?

This is especially true of trucking companies. They tend to deal with lots of invoices which means a significant amount of collection time involves business owner themselves. Trying to get paid in time can become an incredible hassle and this is why you use trucking factoring companies who are happy to help out truckers specifically.

As we all know, trucking is an incredibly large industry with many companies out there employing hundreds of drivers. Unfortunately, many of these drivers end up in money troubles because they are still waiting for work from six weeks ago to actually pay them. When this is the situation for a trucking company, turning to factoring companies for assistance might be the best choice left.

This means that a trucking company can pay the wages of the staff, keep all the trucks topped off with fuel and continue to scale, grow and expand without always waiting for the money which is taking too long to come in. Trucking Businesses running without a factoring program put in place are leaving themselves at significant risk, as competitors cash out fast and continue to expand.

There’s genuinely nothing to be worried about when it comes to using a Factoring company – they aren’t like a bank or somebody who is going to leave you with a huge pile of debt to pay back. You give them genuine invoices from work you have already finished, you are merely speeding up the payment process.In the United States, where trucking companies thrive, factoring companies are not considered borrowing in any capacity. This confidential agreement then allows both parties to profit and enjoy a comfortable future – it gives the factoring company a guaranteed asset of income to add to the list and it gives the trucking firm the needed cash that they worked hard to earn.

The trucking company provides their invoices to the factoring company. The trucking factoring company then receive the payments from the trucking company’s customers. Factoring has been around for hundreds of years and has been used for many years by many different industries – but none more so than truckers. While you may miss out on a small part of the money, something like 1-3% depending on who you work with, it means that you are getting the money today and can actually start putting the money to work.

After all, an IOU or an invoice is not going to pay for expenses, is it? For trucking companies when the money can be good one day and gone the next, it’s up to the drivers to work sensibly and to ensure they are leaving themselves with a significant amount of time and finance to get through the week until they are paid again.

So the next time your trucking business is having some short-term cash flow issues and you are spending too much time chasing slow paying clients, why not start considering using a factoring businesses as a way to get your money and give yourself a more comfortable future in the eyes of your trucking staff and your bank balance?

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The benefits of using a Factoring company versus a bank loan

If you are looking for a convenient way to obtain business capital, factoring is one of the best options available out there. From a recent study, it has been identified that many people go for bank financing in such instances, considering that it is the least expensive method of investing. However, factoring is associated with many other advantages and we will let you know about them through this article.

A proper cash flow is something that every business in the present world should have. In addition, they need to speed up their cash flows along with time. Otherwise, it will not be possible for them to get banks for financing. Unfortunately, banks are not in a position to accommodate all the financial requirements of a company, due to tough credit standards. That is where factoring comes into play. It happens when a company sells its accounts receivable to a bank or a factoring company. The amount that can be taken depends on value of the invoice.

Key benefits associated with factoring

• A company can get large amounts of capital through factoring. It is because this method is entirely based upon accounts receivable. It has impressed many small scale businesses out there since they can obtain a bigger line from their accounts receivable for services or goods. They will not be able to get such a big amount of capital from any conventional bank lender out there. Factoring is something that is based on the credit strength of your potential customers. If your company has more potential customers with healthy credit strengths, you can easily enjoy the benefits of factoring.

• Factoring is quicker than traditional bank loans. Since most of the accounts receivable factoring lines are in a position to be set up, approved and actively funded within a matter of few weeks, you can go through a hassle free process. However, banks will take more time to engage with their credit reviewing activities about your company. They might even wait for audit results or fiscal period closes. Therefore, if you are in need of quick business capital, factoring is the number one option available out there to consider.

• Factoring is something that expands quickly along with the growth of your company. Almost all the factoring companies out there support it. Your company doesn’t need to have an excellent track recording of business. You just need to select a factoring company that is big enough to accommodate all your business development ambitions.

• A factoring company does not offer loans to their clients. Therefore, you cannot find many similarities between a loan and factoring. A factoring company will purchase your accounts receivables along with cash. Therefore, it can be considered as a similar process to increasing the working capital, while showing it as a liability in the account balance sheets. This will even reduce debt in the balance sheet, when compared to borrowing. At the end of the day, your company will get the opportunity to enjoy a lower debt to equity ratio.

• Factoring is less expensive than equity. Most of the businesses approach equity investors to cater their financing requirements. However, there isn’t any substitute for equity capital in some expansion purposes and business investments. Almost all the equity investors expect a higher return from the accounts receivable than the cost. When it comes to factoring arrangements, you won’t be able to find any dilutive effect on shareholders. This will assist you a lot to stay away from hassle.

• Factoring is also recognized as one of the best options available to improve your turn. In the present world, many factoring companies will verify invoices with your customers and check whether they are being paid on time. This will motivate your customers to pay the invoices on time through a gentle reminder. This will result in a better service delivery from your end as well.

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About Invoice Factoring

Perhaps you’ve heard about Invoice Factoring but you’re not sure how it works or how it might help your business. The purpose of this post is to provide a clear explanation of what Invoice Factoring is and how it works.Basically, Invoice Factoring is a viable alternative to traditional financing methods, providing your company with fast access to working capital. There’s no large debt to repay and there are no strings attached. It probably sounds too good to be true, but we can assure you it’s not! Invoice Factoring has become a lifesaver to many businesses, so let’s go into this a little further to see how Invoice Factoring might help your business go from just so-so to really great!

How Invoice Factoring Works

A very brief definition of invoice factoring is that it converts your open invoices into immediate cash, which of course sounds perfect if you’re experiencing a cash flow problem. Factoring saves you from having to wait the 60 or 90 days (sometimes even more) for payment by your customers. With invoice factoring you have the flexibility to factor whichever invoices you want and however many invoices you need, to ensure you have enough cash on hand to grow your business.

The following is a short description of how the process works –

Once you and your chosen factoring company have reached an agreement and set up your account, you’re now free to begin submitting copies of your unpaid invoices to the factoring company. These invoices must be for products that have been delivered or for work that’s been completed. With invoice factoring you simply continue invoicing your customers as usual, then fax or email a copy of the invoice directly to your factoring company.

Now here’s the good part! You’ll receive a cash advance within 24 hours! Once the factor has verified your invoices, a deposit of as much as 95% of the value of the invoices will be deposited directly into your bank account.

You continue working as per usual, and the factoring company works to collect on your accounts. It’s now your factor’s responsibility to engage in the active collection of these accounts, thus allowing you more time to focus on the big stuff, like providing your customers with excellent service and continuing to grow your business.

As a customer of the factoring company you can repeat this process with as many different clients as you want and as many times as you want. You may choose to factor all of your clients, or just the clients that are known for being slow-paying clients. The choice is yours!

The Benefits of Invoice Factoring

Once you’re working with an invoice factoring company you’ll have control over your cash flow, and more importantly, you’ll have a working relationship with your factor that will help your business grow in lots more ways. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways a factoring company can help you grow your business –Credit Checks and Background Verification

It’s important to all businesses that they work with honest, reliable customers; customers who have a solid payment history. Sales must be turned into revenue as quickly as possible. However, we know that credit checks and background verifications can be very expensive and these costs very quickly eat away at your working capital. Now, it will be your invoice factoring company who provides these checks for you, at no additional charge. This means that any issues will be addressed before they affect your business, thus ensuring that you’re working with top-quality customers.

Credit Repair and Credit Building

Even if your business credit is less than perfect, you can still apply for a competitive invoice factoring program. The benefit of this to the business owner is that, not only will factoring your open invoices cover your daily operating costs, it will also help pay down any current debt in order to rebuild your credit rating. The good news is that start-ups also qualify for invoice factoring so, if you’re just getting your business off the ground, factoring is the ideal financing alternative to help you hit the ground running.

Other Money Saving Opportunities

Invoice factoring can certainly save your company money, and it’s not only with competitive rates. By negotiating with your suppliers for early-pay discounts or other payment incentives, you’ll soon discover new ways of putting your rejuvenated cash flow to good use. And don’t forget that, depending on how much you factor, you could well qualify for a volume discount, and this will further reduce your rates.

Steady and Consistent Cash Flow

When you begin factoring your invoices you’ll be able to regain complete control of your working capital. Whether you’re simply tired of waiting up to 90 days for money that’s owed to you, or perhaps your business is subject to seasonal fluctuations, either way, invoice factoring is the ideal method for regulating your cash flow.

Now You Can Start Dreaming Big!

You may have become used to business being steady, but with invoice factoring you’ll have the opportunity for business growth in many new ways .

o You’ll be able to attract larger clients, with better contracts;o Increased business marketing efforts; o New technology investments, or upgrades; o The ability to employ more staff; o Training and further education programs for existing staff; o Relocation of your business, or site expansion.

Finally, No More Debt!

One of the most attractive things about invoice factoring is that it’s not like a traditional loan: it won’t add additional debt to your balance sheet. In fact, it’s actually the opposite; because Invoice Factoring provides you with the extra cash you need to be able to settle old debts. With factoring, it’s already your money so there’s no money to pay back and no interest to pay. All factoring does is help you get your money into your bank account - quicker!

Why Haven’t I Heard of Invoice Factoring Before?

This is a question a lot of business owners ask. Invoice factoring certainly isn’t new, but maybe it’s just been overshadowed in the past by bank loans and other types of business investments. The fact is that factoring goes right back to the days of the Roman Empire, where factors assisted businessmen (usually farmers) in growing their business. Then, later, it was used in the textile and clothing industry to help pay for raw materials, to finance transactions, and accept larger purchase orders. Today, invoice factoring is used by many different types of industries, such as:

Don’t be discouraged because you don’t understand factoring terminology. See below for an explanation of general factoring terms :

• Account Debtor: An account debt or is your customer.

• Accounts Receivable Ageing Report: This is the name given to a report which shows the financial figure of unpaid receivables, in addition to how long they’ve remained unpaid.

• Accounts Receivable Factoring; also known as Invoice Factoring: These two terms can be used interchangeably because they mean exactly the same thing.

• Discount Rate: This refers to the percentage of the invoice charged by the factor as a fee for advancing funds.

• Due Diligence: This refers to the background research carried out by the factor to determine potential customers.

• Factoring Advance Rate: This rate is a percentage of the invoice that’s advanced within 24 hours to the client – this figure is generally between 80 and 95% of the total amount of the invoice.

• Factoring Broker: A factoring broker is a third party whose position is to connect business owners with appropriate factoring companies in order to meet the business’s goals and needs.

• Lien: The right to retain possession of property until a debt has been discharged.

• Non-Recourse Funding: Most businesses have experienced customers who fail to pay their invoices within the agreed payment terms, or worse, the invoice is never paid at all! Non-Recourse Funding is when the factor assumes all responsibility for unpaid invoices. Because the factoring company is accepting the risk, Non-Recourse Funding is more expensive than Recourse Funding.

• Recourse Funding: With Recourse Funding, your company must buy back the receivables if your client fails to pay within the agreed payment terms.

• Reserve: This is the amount of the Accounts Receivable retained by the factor until such time as full payment has been made by the customer.

• Spot Factoring: This refers to a one-off agreement that offers staffing companies the ability to factor just one single invoice.

Your Customers, and Factoring

It’s important that we point out here that factoring is not a negative thing, and your factoring company is definitely not a collections agency. In fact, it’s important to your factoring company that they maintain good relationships with both you and your customers, and it’s their aim to provide the best customer service possible. It’s in your factoring company’s best interests that the factoring process works as smoothly as possible.

The following will give you a general idea of how factoring works :

• Once you’ve made the decision to start invoice factoring, your dedicated account manager will start by verifying that your debtors are indeed customers, in addition to advising them of your new remittance address. It’s important to remember that it makes no difference to your clients where they send their payment: they know their invoice must be paid, so this is simply a change of address for payments.

• Your factoring account manager will be very experienced and will assure your clients that they’ll be well taken care of, and that the factoring company will be managing your invoices in future by taking over your accounts receivable. And that’s all there is to it! Nothing will change between your company and your customers: you’ll still invoice them as usual, and they’ll simply forward their payment to a new Post Office box. Your account manager will be available to help if any problems should arise.

What You Should Look For in a Factoring Company

Once you start doing your own research you’ll discover that there are many factoring companies out there, but they’re definitely not all equal. The following are points to consider when comparing factoring companies:

• Fees As we’ve explained, factoring is a little more expensive than a traditional bank loan, but some small businesses don’t qualify for a bank loan, so being able to achieve some working capital is better than none at all. Do your research, and make sure you understand the overall cost of factoring, in addition to the extra smaller fees that may be charged by your factor. These extra fees may include account set-up fees, application fees, credit reports, costs to research any liens, charges for last-minute funding, or for money transfers. Not all factors charge these extra fees, and not all factors have hidden fees, which means that it’s very important that you choose a factor you’re comfortable with and one that you can trust.

• Flexibility This is a very important aspect of factoring, and one we can’t stress enough. Make sure you very carefully read the fine print of your factoring contract! If you start working with a factoring company and then realize that you’re locked into terms that don’t suit your own particular circumstances, you’re going to be extremely unhappy. These unsatisfactory terms might include how much you’re able to factor each month, or being tied to a specific factoring company for the life of your business. If you sign up for a long-term contract, then change your mind, it’s going to be a very expensive exercise trying to get out of the contract. Don’t let this happen to you! Be very clear on how much you can factor each month, which clients are eligible for factoring, and how long you’re signing up for.

• Communication At one point or another we’ve all had to deal with a business with poor communication skills, and we probably all agree that it’s extremely frustrating. So, imagine a business with poor communication skills that’s also handling your money! Naturally, when it comes to your business and your money, you need someone that’s going to immediately respond to your inquiries. All factoring companies are going to say their customer service is second-to-none, but be very cautious here. Pay close attention to when and how your potential factoring company responds to your calls and emails, because this is how they’ll be responding to your customers. If you’re not 100% happy then move on to another factoring company, because there are certainly plenty to choose from!

• Industry Expertise Remember that there are many factoring companies out there servicing many industries, so you should be looking for one that services your own industry. Ideally, you’ll choose a factoring company that specializes in your niche, which means that they’ll already understand a lot about your business. The bonus of using a factoring company with industry expertise is that they may also offer programs specific to your industry, such as fuel cards and back-office support. It’s these extras that may prove very beneficial when making your final decision on a factoring company.

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Questions You Need to Ask Your Factoring Company

In today’s marketplace we’re seeing more and more factoring companies, and factoring fees, rates and agreement terms have become very competitive. This means that, as a potential factoring customer, this competitiveness should work to your advantage. However, there are some issues you must consider when choosing a factoring company to suit your specific requirements.

Before entering into any factoring agreement, here are some important questions you should ask –

What Are Your Terms?

As a factoring customer, you’ll be looking for as much flexibility in your factoring agreement as possible. It may be that you choose a long term contract with your factoring company if it includes flexible rates or a price break. In today’s competitive market, many factoring companies are agreeing to adjust their rates based on competitive offers from other factors or increased factoring volume.

The majority of factoring agreements are a one year contract, which appears to be industry standard, and this contract will renew automatically unless you provide the factoring company either 60 or 90 days notice.

What’s Your Fee Structure?

The fee structure may vary depending on both the factoring company involved and your industry. Some factoring companies charge a flat fee, which is calculated as a percentage of the total value of the invoice. On the other hand, other factoring companies charge additional fees to cover costs associated with doing business, such as money transfers, software, and so on. Ensure that the factoring company you’re considering working with is completely upfront and transparent with you about its terms and fees.

Are You Able to Offer Both Recourse and Non Recourse Factoring?

Recourse factoring:

Recourse factoring is less expensive than non recourse factoring. With recourse factoring, you (being the client) are ultimately responsible if the factoring company is unable to collect on your customers’ invoices. However, you’re not necessarily required to pay the debt out of pocket if you have a recourse agreement and the customer defaults on payment. It may be that the factoring company will withhold a portion of future cash payments or payments held in reserve, with the money being placed in an escrow account until such time as the debt has been paid.

Non recourse factoring:

When you have a non recourse factoring agreement, the credit risk for the collection of customers’ invoices lies with the factoring company.Therefore, we believe it’s to your advantage to use a factoring company that offers both recourse and non recourse factoring, simply because you may find that some of your customers are more suitable for recourse factoring than others. In addition, you need a factoring company with a strong credit team because they can work with you to ensure you’re dealing with good customers: to a certain degree this will relieve some of the pressure of being responsible for bad debt.

How Long Has the Factoring Company Been in Business?

With the marketplace becoming increasingly competitive, today we’re seeing the creation of more and more factoring companies. However, many of these companies are recent start ups, with limited industry experience. Make sure you research the factoring company’s history prior to entering into any factoring agreement: also research its background into providing financial services in your specific industry.

Do You Have the Capital to Grow with Me?

The fact that there’s no limit to the level of financing is the major advantage factoring has over traditional bank lending. As your company continues to grow, so too should the funding of invoices grow with you. Do your research and learn as much as possible about your potential factoring company’s client base and their capital structure.

Does this factoring company have a limit to the number of debtors it takes on? What’s a typical account size? What’s the factoring volume of their largest client? You’ll probably find that factoring companies who have been serving your industry for many years will have greater capacity to finance your company as it continues to grow.

Is There Anything Else You Can Do for Me?

Obviously, factoring is more expensive than a conventional bank loan, and this is partly due to the back office services that your factoring company is able to provide. Besides collections and financing, many factoring companies will evaluate companies in your industry and provide credit information. Therefore, when looking for a factoring company for your business, make sure the one you choose offers additional services and products that can assist you in making good business decisions.

How Do We Start Factoring?

Fortunately, factoring companies are not unduly concerned about your balance sheet before they decide to work with you, unlike banks. However, they do have a process to follow when selecting new clients, so be sure you understand what the factoring company is looking for when it’s considering you as a client. Are they looking at your credit ratings and/or your customers’ payment histories?

Are they looking at your personal credit score?

In many cases a company will start factoring because it’s looking for a quick injection of cash, so you need to know how many days the factoring company will take to review and process your application.

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The Basics of Invoice Factoring: Choosing a Factoring Company

Probably the biggest frustration for business to business (B2B) companies is waiting to get paid.Anyone involved in a seasonal business, long payment cycle, or lumpy cash flow will be able to relate to this statement. Some customers are very slow payers (of course corporate clients and governments come to mind!) and other customers demand generous terms.

Explaining Invoice Factoring

Basically, with invoice factoring your current but unpaid invoices are turned into cash – it’s a financing solution for businesses. Other terms used for factoring are ‘Accounts Receivable Financing’, ‘Invoice Financing ‘and ‘Receivables Financing’. Because many clients demand generous terms, it means that invoices can remain unpaid for anywhere between 30 and 90 days; while in the meantime you’re left without cash and falling behind on important expenses, such as payroll, and missing opportunities to grow your business. And this is where factoring comes in: factoring reduces, and sometimes eliminates the frustration of unpaid accounts.

A receivable financing transaction usually involves three parties, and these are the company that initially issues the invoice, the customer who is required to pay the invoice (otherwise known as the account debtor), and the ‘factor’, which is the financing company prepared to supply the cash.

Explaining Invoice Financing

An invoice is issued to a customer after a company has delivered a service or product. This invoice will now be sold to the factor and, in return, the company will receive a cash advance: this will usually be between 70% and 90% of the invoice’s value. With this cash the company finds it easier to pay employees; plus, it can now purchase supplies, materials, and inventory, and it can take on more work. Once the debtor pays their invoice the business will receive a rebate for the rest of the funds, less a fee which will be based on the value of the invoice and the term. This type of financial agreement benefits all three parties: the customer receives cash almost immediately, the debtor gets favorable payment terms, and the factoring company collects a fee.

Explaining the Difference between Traditional Bank Financing and Invoice Financing

There are, of course, both drawbacks and benefits to this type of financing for businesses. The obvious benefits of factoring are a simpler application process, quicker funding, and higher approval rates when compared to bank lending. Having access to cash allows a business to grow, to meet payroll, achieve supplier discounts for bulk purchases or early payment, and to purchase equipment in order to improve productivity.

Factoring has a very simple application process which eliminates some of the main hurdles placed on small businesses by banks. The speed of funding with factoring offers businesses the opportunity to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. In addition, the high approval rates with factoring means that many more businesses qualify, even though they may have previously been declined by a bank. Another bonus is that funds received from factoring invoices can be used to supplement bank credit, if necessary.

On the other hand, when it comes to cost, a line of credit at a bank is less expensive than factoring; this is assuming that the business will be successful in their application to the bank and that they’ll have access to the finance within a reasonable timeframe. Unfortunately, these applications are not always successful (four out of five companies are refused bank loans), while others find the whole process too discouraging.

Another possible issue with working with traditional factoring companies is that some of these companies will advise your customers that their invoices have been financed: this information can cause issues for some small businesses because they prefer to maintain control over all correspondence with their clients. Other factoring companies actually take control of your account receivables. Our advice is that you look for a factoring company that’s prepared to work on a non notification basis.

Receivables Financing Has Become Good Business Sense

Today we see factoring becoming quite commonplace in many industries, such as IT companies, professional services, wholesale trade, marketing, manufacturing companies and so on. Many, many industries are discovering the benefits of receivables financing.

Invoice factoring is an ideal solution for business to business companies who issue invoices payable within 15 to 90 days. Any B2B company who’s experiencing rapid growth, long payment cycles, or lumpy cash flow, will benefit the most from accounts receivable factoring. On the other hand, businesses and business to consumer (B2C) companies that are paid on delivery and don’t issue invoices would have no need of factoring services.

If you’re interested in invoice financing and believe it may be an option for your business, see below for our tips on how to approach working with a factoring company.

How to Work with an Invoice Factoring Company

There are many advantages to invoice financing, but it can be tricky working with some traditional factoring companies. Some factoring companies don’t have excellent customer service, and between confusing terms, long term contracts, monthly minimums, and hidden penalties, the experience can be quite daunting. Our aim is to ensure that you get a fair deal when working with a factoring company, and please remember that, as always, if a deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!

You’re Looking for Transparent Factoring Fees and Rates

Companies that make it difficult to work out their all inclusive fees are companies who are working for their own advantage, so when determining pricing, transparency is key. If you’re getting frustrated and not receiving direct answers, we suggest you move on to another factoring company that will be respectful of your time.

Another Word of Caution: Beware of receivables factoring companies who advertise low rates, which then increase when all their hidden fees come to light. We’ve heard of factoring companies who charge low monthly factoring rates, but you’ll be charged for two months’ even if the invoice was paid in one month and one day. We also know that some factors require monthly minimums, which means that you pay for financing even if it’s not required. We strongly suggest that you read our article on factoring rates and tricks so that you approach factoring with knowledge and awareness.

Understanding Penalties, and How to Avoid Them

Be aware that some invoice factoring companies out there have hidden penalties. In order to avoid these penalties, you need to know why they occur. If you believe these penalties are out of proportion or unfair, then move on to another factor. It won’t be long before you’ll understand what fair and reasonable terms look like.

Read the Fine Print in Your Contract

In order to guarantee their profits, most factoring companies will try to lock you into a long term contract. Obviously this is good business for the factoring company, but it may not be so good for your business. You need to know what you’re signing up for, so be aware of long term contracts where you’ll be charged exorbitant cancellation fees if you should decide to leave.

Also, be aware that some long term contracts include minimums, so consider this carefully: you may find yourself paying for something you’re not using when you only needed the factoring company to meet occasional cash flow needs. You shouldn’t be forced to remain with a service that’s not meeting your needs, so it’s vitally important that you carefully read the fine print.

Customer Confidentiality

Once you start your research on factoring you’ll discover that most factoring companies operate on a notification basis, which means that when you sell your invoices to the factor, they notify your customers. They’ll also ask that the funds be routed directly to the factoring company’s bank account, instead of your account. This can be an issue for business owners who prefer to have control of all communications with their customers. If discretion is important to you and your business,

we strongly suggest that your accounts receivable financing company provides non notification factoring, meaning that you retain control over customer communications. If this is not an option for your factoring company, then you need to move to a companythat will provide non notification factoring.

How Much Cash Will You Receive Upfront?

You’ll receive an advance upfront, which is a percentage of the face value of the invoice. This advance will probably be somewhere between 70% and 90% of the invoice’s face value. For example, let’s say your customer owes you $1000: your advance payment should be somewhere between $700 and $900.

Factoring Minimums Compared with Single Invoice Discounting

You’ll also notice in your research that many factors require small businesses to submit all invoices from certain customers. On the other hand, ‘single invoice discounting’, also known as ‘spot factoring’, means that the business concerned determines which invoices will be sent to the factoring company for advance payment. Make sure you understand your factoring company’s terms before you sign anything. Single invoice discounting or spot factoring is generally the preferred method for small businesses because it enables you to retain control over your financing by determining which invoices will be sent for factoring.

Choosing Your Factoring Company

Think about all the above criteria, and look for a business partner who will provide your business with the best combination of flexibility, features, and terms that you require. By doing a little research you’ll soon find a partner and an agreement that offers you the flexibility, funds, terms, and transparency that work best for you. Your aim is to find a partner that you’ll be happy to work with long term, so don’t settle for anything less.

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Explaining ‘Factoring’

A ‘Factor’ is a third party commercial financial company who purchases the Accounts Receivable from businesses: this transaction is known as ‘Factoring’. Factoring exists so that businesses can receive a quick injection of cash, as opposed to waiting the 60 or 90 days for customers to pay their invoices. Factoring is also known as Accounts Receivable Financing, and Invoice Factoring.

The majority of factoring companies purchase invoices and advance money to the business within 24 hours; however, the nature and terms of factoring can (and do) differ among financial service providers and industries. Depending on your customers’ credit histories, your industry, and other specific criteria, the advance rate on your invoices can range from 80% to as high as 95%. The factoring company not only collects on your invoices; it also offers back office support to your business.Once the factoring company has collected on your customer’s invoice,you’ll be paid the balance of the invoice – less the factor’s fee for assuming the risk. The primary benefit of factoring is that businesses no longer need to wait anywhere between one and three months for a customer to pay their accounts: they now have access to cash in hand so they can operate and grow their business.The Advantages of Factoring

There are a few reasons why factoring has become an invaluable financial tool for many businesses, including start ups. As mentioned above, the main benefit is that businesses can now receive a quick boost to their cash flow because factoring companies, in general, will provide cash on accounts receivable within 24 hours. This resolves the problems businesses experience with short term cash flow, and in many ways this injection of cash can help to grow a business. Besides handling your customer collections, factoring companies can also evaluate your customers’ payment and credit histories.Other benefits of factoring include:

• It can be customized to a business’s needs and managed to ensure that capital is available when it’s needed;• It’s not based on your own business or credit history: it’s based on the quality of your customers’ credit;• It’s not based on your company’s net worth: it provides a line of credit based on sales;• There’s no limit to the amount of financing, unlike conventional bank loans;• This financing will not show up as a debt on your balance sheet, because it’s not a loan.Who Uses Factoring?

Companies of all different sizes, including start ups, use factoring; and today factoring has become common business practice across many industries. Factoring is now widely used in the transportation industry, including manufacturing, textiles, trucking, oilfield services, wholesale and distribution, and staffing agencies. Interestingly, factoring receivables is practiced in many countries around the world and has a long history of success.

Can I Factor? My Company’s New, with No Financial History

Yes, you can! In fact, factoring has become an excellent tool for start up companies because no company credit history or balance sheet is required. It’s not really your company’s finances that the factoring company is concerned with; they’ll base their financing on your customers’ payment histories and credit scores.

What Percentage of My Invoices Should I Factor?

The answer to this question really depends on the unique needs of your business. Some companies only factor invoices for customers who typically take a long time to pay, while others factor all their invoices. The receivables that a company can factor range anywhere from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars each and every month.

What’s the Difference between Factoring and a Bank Loan?

• The difference between factoring and a bank loan is that you’re not assuming any debt with factoring because it’s not a loan;• With factoring, there’s no emphasis on your balance sheet – it’s all on your customer’s invoices; • In addition, a bank loan is typically one lump sum, whereas factoring provides a steady flow of funds;• Factoring companies can also help improve your company’s balance sheet by assisting with your credit and collection functions;• A bank loan adds to your debt, whereas factoring converts receivables (an asset) into cash (another asset); • And of course, bank loans can be very difficult to get because they’re limited by your balance sheet.How Do You Start the Factoring Process?

The factoring process can be very simple to set up. The customer will be asked to complete a short application form, and may be required to follow up with other reports and documents.

Recourse and Non Recourse Factoring: What’s the Difference?

• With Recourse factoring the client is ultimately responsibility for the payment of the invoice; whereas• With Non Recourse factoring, the factoring company accepts responsibility for the risk of collecting the invoice.It’s important to note that some factoring companies over offer both types of factoring – recourse and non recourse.

What Are the Contract Terms and Fees Applicable with Factoring?

There are different fee structures with different factoring companies: some factors charge an overall factoring fee which is determined by the creditworthiness of your customers and the monthly volume of invoices; while others charge additional fees to cover shipping, money transfers, and other costs associated with doing business. Before signing with any factoring company make sure you understand the fees and terms applicable to your contract. Also note that most factoring contacts are renewed annually.

Do I Need Credit Insurance on Debtors?

Insurance is not typically required, but in specific circumstances it may be.

Des Moines Factoring Companies Articles

Many healthcare professionals will attest to the fact that qualifying for a business loan or commercial line of credit is becoming harder and harder. Fortunately, there is a viable option, and it's known as Medical Factoring. Medical factoring is available for all types of healthcare businesses, including medical practices, and is the ideal financing option for businesses experiencing cash flow problems.

The Challenges Faced by the Healthcare Industry

Generally, the healthcare industry has excellent growth prospects and is quite resilient to economic turbulence, but it's also an industry facing more financial challenges than ever before. In years gone by, healthcare professionals, medical facilities, and medical suppliers found it reasonably easy to manage their cash flow, but today Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies have laid down strict guidelines for reimbursement, including onerous documentation and billing requirements, so-much-so that businesses not only receive less money, but must wait longer to receive it.

This situation can, and does, create financial issues for many medical providers who, while dealing with increasing operating expenses, salaries, and benefits, must also accept less and wait longer to receive their money. In many cases, the health provider's long-term viability is placed in jeopardy, and because of cash flow problems the business is unable to pursue new opportunities for growth. A physician running a relatively small practice could well have $1 million tied up in receivables!

The Problem with Bank Loans

When any business confronts a cash flow crisis their first port of call is usually a bank or other commercial lender, and a Line of Credit or business loan can certainly help in the short term; however, neither will permanently solve the problem and are therefore not optimal financing solutions. Bank loans are more suited to large fixed capital purchases, but they're not designed to cover short-term recurring business expenses. On the other hand, a Line of Credit is somewhat better, but because they have credit limits and fixed terms they're not able to provide the assurance a business needs of an unlimited, renewable source of business capital. Once the credit limit has been reached or the term of credit line ends, the lender has the right to not renew or increase the credit limit. And, unfortunately, this is the situation that many healthcare professionals find themselves in today.

The Perfect Medical Financing Solution

So, what's the ideal solution for medical financing? The perfect solution would be one that's flexible enough to grow and expand with the healthcare business; one where the business owner is not required to re-apply to a bank or other lender for credit limit increases. The ideal solution would provide a reliable and steady source of working capital, capable of financing both the current and future operations of the business.

Medical Factoring

Fortunately, there is a solution for healthcare professionals, and it's known as Medical Factoring. Medical Factoring, or Medical Receivables Factoring is an area of receivables factoring that deals exclusively with accounts that are medical in nature. Due to the fact that many healthcare receivables are either reduced or denied by insurance providers, and because of the expertise required to manage the claims process, factoring companies who factor medical receivables face significant challenges, so-much-so that it's almost a necessity for these companies to specialize in medical factoring. In fact, there are many factoring companies out there that do nothing else!

What Types of Business Use Medical Factoring?

Factoring has been around for hundreds of years and many industries have discovered the benefits of invoice factoring. However, many medical service providers are completely unaware of the existence of factoring and therefore don't realize that it's one of the most flexible and powerful business financing tools available today. Almost any healthcare provider can benefit from Medical Factoring, including -

Receivables Factoring offers medical practices an excellent financing alternative to loans: the medical practice will have consistent and flexible financing tied directly to its insurance claims. This means that the amount of available financing increases as more claims are filed. Having a reliable cash flow in a growing medical practice ensures that there will always be sufficient liquid business capital to cover expenses.

Medical Supply Companies

In the same way, medical factoring offers medical supply companies quick and predictable business financing, directly tied to the volume of sales. The amount of financing grows as sales grow, automatically providing the working capital needed to both operate and grow the business.

Generally, medical factoring is particularly well suited for smaller medical offices. Because your chosen factoring company will be handling most of the administrative work involved in collections and claims processing, overhead expenses and office staffing can be kept at a minimum, thus allowing you to focus on what you do best - delivering the best medical care possible!

If you have a small practice with good growth prospects, but you also have slow cash flow, then you'll soon discover that medical factoring could well be the ideal financing tool to help you finance the growth of your business. It's true that most factoring companies have minimums, but there are factoring companies out there who will finance an office billing as little as $50,000 per month.

How Medical Receivables Factoring Works

Medical Factoring is quite simple: Basically, medical factoring accelerates payments for any healthcare business that depends on third-party payors. This means that within days of the initial billing (instead of weeks) most of the business's billed amount will be deposited directly into that business's bank account, thus drastically shortening the collection cycle and eliminating the constant headache of cash flow problems.

The added bonus of medical factoring is that it's not a loan, and as such, has no impact whatsoever on the business's balance sheet. There are no arbitrary limits, no credit limits, and no stringent financial requirements. The healthcare professional can factor as much of the billing as is generated by the business, thus making factoring the ideal financing tool for business growth.

How to Create a Factoring Program

Setting up a factoring program will typically take a couple of weeks at most. Obviously, the factoring company will need reassurance that the third-party payors are reliable and that their clients' practices are stable. However, once the factoring program has been established, medical financing is predictable and continuous. Claims will typically be funded within 48 hours after being submitted to the medical factoring company.

The Factoring Process

Medical Factoring is a very simple process -

- Periodically, your practice submits billings to Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance companies (note that certain medical factoring companies will do this for you), with copies forwarded to your factoring company; - Within 48 hoursthe advance, or up to 85% of net collectables, will be deposited into your business bank account. The balance will be held in reserve to settle billing discrepancies; - The factoring fee will be collected once a factoring company has been paid, with the balance of the billings being remitted to you. The fee charged by the medical factoring company will vary according to the size and types of claims generated by the practice.

The Future of Medical Factoring

It's true that medical factoring covers a relatively small portion of factoring activity overall; however, more healthcare professionals are learning about factoring and, today, we're seeing an increase in interest in medical factoring throughout the healthcare industry. As the benefits of this type of medical financing become more widely known, it's anticipated that medical receivables factoring will become more widely used.

Medical factoring provides a short-term solution for shortfalls in working capital financing, plus a long-term solution for medical financing and patient accounting support, and it's for these reasons that medical factoring as a financing tool deserves careful consideration by healthcare businesses.